Kwankwaso supporters in Abuja, as ex-Kano Governor declares for presidency

*Alleges turn down of use of Eagles Square

*Eagle Square meant for Theresa May visit – Abuja source

*Insists President unafraid of any PDP aspirant

Supporters of former Governor of Kano State and serving Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso made a massive move on Abuja on Wednesday to attend his formal declaration for 2019 presidency.

Kwankwaso is currently seeking to be given the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with about nine others including the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the party’s primaries coming soon.

The Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation said it received a letter dated August 27, 2018 and signed by Usman Mukhtar Raji for the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd, the Facility Manager that managed the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square barely 24 hours to the scheduled presidential declaration, reversing itself in respect of approval granted the organizers of the event.

“We at the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation see the development as a handiwork of the government in power who will not see anything good in growing our fledgling democracy as no level playing field has been created to allow for viable opposition in the country.

“Even at that, earlier Tuesday morning, the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd refused us access to inspect the premises demanding us to present a police permit, when actual approval for the use of the Eagle Square has been sought and paid for more than one week to the said declaration.

“The above development will in no way dampen our morale to go ahead with the declaration or chicken out as it will only embolden us to legally pursue our fundamental right to freedom of movement and association,” the organisation said.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ordered the police to seal the Eagle Square because they were afraid of the crowd that would grace the Kano State former governor’s declaration for presidency today.

The First Spokesman of the CUPP and National Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Ikenga Ugochinyere, reportedly told newsmen Tuesday in Abuja, that the act of preventing opposition leaders from holding such events was shameful and undemocratic.

Similarly, some political associates of Senator Kwankwaso reportedly said that nothing would stop their boss from declaring his presidential ambition today.

The spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Hajiya Binta Spikin, said that despite the alleged orders by the police to stop the declaration, Kwankwaso would definitely declare his presidential ambition as scheduled.

Binta Spikin said no amount of intimidation would stop the scheduled presidential declaration.

Also reacting, Alhaji Haruna Umar Doguwa, said the sudden stoppage of the declaration surprised the followers of Kwankwasiyya group.

Doguwa said, “We have followed due processes and obtained a permission to hold the political gathering at Eagle Square today but unfortunately another order came from the above and stopped the move. This political brutality will not affect the popularity of Senator Kwankwaso.

“We were stopped from Kano to hold political rally and now we were stopped from declaring our presidential ambition. I wonder why this kind of thing is happening under a government that many people expect to be democratic.”

However, a member of the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation, Mohammed Jamo, said in a media interview that the event would hold at Chida Hotel.

Although no presidency’s official has reacted to this, an Abuja source said there was nothing to fear about any rally by any of the PDP’s aspirants as, according to the source, the company that the Kwankwaso’s group wrote it the letter refusing him the venue should be the one to speak better about it.

Speaking on this, a pro-government social activist, Akan Ebenezer, said, “I understand Kwankwaso got approval to use the Eagle Square for his presidential declaration, and duly paid the charges for it.  But today also coincides with the visit of Theresa May, and the Eagle Square smack in the middle of events, and directly opposite the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is going to be a beehive of diplomatic activity today.
“May’s convoy will most definitely pass a few meters away from the Square enroute to Aso Rock, and for security reasons, any activity as big as presidential declaration would create a gridlock for the smooth passage of the convoy of the visiting British PM.
“And we know how our politicians declare. It’s not just with a simple statement of purpose, but a jamboree of sorts with all manner of supporters finding their way to the venue- especially if their presence has been induced.
“It would have been a security nightmare. Not because I see anybody seeking to harm Theresa May, but because even a lone ranger from Boko Haram could seize the opportunity, using the chaos of the declaration for cover to make a name for himself.”